GitHub App Keys detected in code

Rule Details

Cortex AppSec Rule ID	APPSEC_SECRET_235
Category	API Keys
Severity	MEDIUM
Framework	Git

Impact

GitHub App Keys are sensitive developer or build credentials (such as a Personal Access Token or an app’s Client ID/Secret) used to authenticate CI runners or publishing pipelines.

Exposure allows attackers to impersonate a developer or automation system, leading to a critical supply chain attack.

How to Fix

To remediate exposed Source Control or CI/CD tokens:

1. Log in to the relevant system or provider.
2. Navigate to the settings menu to locate the exposed credential.
3. Revoke or delete the compromised token immediately.
4. Generate a new token if continued access is required.
5. Update any dependent systems or services with the new credential.

Next, remove the secret from your codebase:

1. Locate the exposed secret in your codebase.
2. Replace the hardcoded value with a secure variable or reference.

Finally, clean your version control history:

1. Permanently remove the sensitive data from your version control history to ensure it cannot be retrieved.